Press Release - Act now to ensure good herd health

Act now to ensure good herd health

Housing is a critical time of the year to consider herd health according
to Merial Animal Health Limited. Treatment for internal and external
parasites and steps to prevent or minimise the risks from calf pneumonia
are just some of the issues that should be taken into consideration.

In terms of parasite treatment, Merial~s Veterinary Adviser Fiona
MacGillivray says: ""There are some very strong economic and herd health
reasons why beef producers need an all year-round programme to deal with
liver fluke, worms and external parasites.

""Housing is one of the important times of the year for implementing this
programme. Treating for economically damaging worms and fluke at housing
will ensure a better return on investment from expensive winter feed.  .

According to figures for 2009 from the Meat Hygiene Service, more than
one in five cattle sent to slaughterhouses in the UK had their livers
condemned as a result of damage caused by liver fluke infection1.
Research conducted by Merial also shows that more and more vets in the
eastern parts of Britain are identifying fluke as a problem where
previously this was uncommon2.

Fluke can reduce cattle liveweight gain by up to 1.2 kg per week3,
adding anything up to an extra 80 days to finishing.

""A combination endectocide that offers treatment against fluke and worms
as well as external parasites is a useful option at this time of the
year,"" says Fiona, ""Once cattle are housed, they can no longer pick up
fluke and worms from the pasture and they are also at greater risk from
external parasites. Therefore a combination endectocide used at housing
can pay real dividends when it comes to maximising feed conversion
during the winter months.""

Housing is also a good time to be thinking about calf pneumonia and ways
of preventing it. Fiona says: ""Calf pneumonia is one of the most common
diseases affecting young cattle. It is often a group problem, and can
particularly affect housed cattle. There are a number of factors
involved; the interaction of various infectious organisms (bacteria and
viruses), the level of immunity of the calf and environmental factors.
However, there are a number of steps that farmers can take to ensure
that they reduce the risk.""

Good housing management is critical to pneumonia prevention. Ventilation
should be sufficient and appropriate to all weather conditions to ensure
good air flow through the building. This helps to prevent the build-up
of ammonia, which can be an irritant, and stops the natural defence
systems in the upper respiratory tract working properly. However,
draughts should be prevented as they can also make calves prone to
disease.

Regular cleaning and good hygiene will ensure that bedding and floors
remain dry, so infectious organisms are less likely to multiply and
survive. It is also important to ensure that drainage is kept clear and
clean.

Practices that can increase the chances of calf pneumonia occurring
include overstocking and mixing cattle of different ages. Miss
MacGillivray says: ""If there are too many cattle in a small space, the
air can become warm and moist, making it a perfect breeding ground for
bacteria and viruses. If ventilation in the building is inadequate also,
the chances of cattle coming down with the disease are also much higher.

""Generally, older animals are more likely to have been exposed to some
of the bugs which can cause pneumonia, and they will have developed
immunity against them. However, they still carry the bugs, and can pass
them on to younger cattle that do not have the same immunity.""

Anything that causes the animals stress can also increase the likelihood
of them contracting pneumonia. The timing of stressful procedures such
as disbudding, weaning, castration etc, should, therefore, be considered
carefully.

In some circumstances, vaccination can play an important role in helping
to prevent calf pneumonia. Various vaccines are available to help
protect against viruses, bacteria or a combination of both and their use
should be discussed with your veterinary surgeon, who can advise on
possible vaccination strategies.

When cattle become visibly infected with pneumonia, they should be
isolated as soon as they are identified to help prevent the spread to
others within the group. Fast and effective treatment is critical to
minimising any potential lung damage, and ensuring a speedy recovery.

""A fast-acting, long-lasting antibiotic that specifically targets the
lungs and only requires a single injection helps to minimise the impact
of pneumonia and reduces the stress for animals being treated and stress
for the handler treating the cattle! At all times handling should be
kept to a minimum to reduce additional stress on the animals,"" says
Fiona.